Staffordshire woman raises £100k for Guide Dogs

Ann Moorhouse has raised more than £100k for Guide Dogs

A woman has raised more than £100,000 for charity in memory of her late husband.

Ann Moorhouse, from Cheadle, Staffordshire, has been fundraising for the Guide Dogs charity since her husband died 17 years ago.

When he died, she decided to ask for charitable donations rather than flowers, and subsequently discovered that people who donate £5,000 are given the opportunity to name a guide dog puppy.

She has now named 14 guide dogs and raised more than £100,000 in total.

'A passion'

She said: “I thought £5,000 was going to be a lot and it might take me 12 months, or two to three years, but at least it might give me something to focus on and take my mind off my loss.”

Ms Moorhouse, who fundraises by selling items at car boot sales, said it was initially a way of keeping her husband's memory alive, but now, it has become an important part of her life.

“I just enjoy it. It’s become a passion.”

Since the first guide dog partnerships in 1931, the Guide Dogs charity has supported 36,000 people.